Several myths about child custody after a divorce are believed by many people. Some of those beliefs used to have a basis in fact, but society has changed and the courts have responded accordingly. A Custody Attorney in Martinsburg WV can answer questions when a parent is concerned about a possible change in the children’s current living arrangements.
Teenagers Decide Where They Live
One misconception is that teenagers are automatically allowed to decide which parent they will live with. Although it may be sensible for parents to allow a mature youngster to make this decision, the court usually will not order a change in custody from one parent to another without good cause.
Some suitable reasons include negligence, abuse, and questionable behavior like excessive alcohol use or a series of romantic partners regularly staying overnight. If a parent is concerned about this type of problem, contacting an organization such as Business Name is advisable. Visit http://lshermanlawfirm.com/ for information.
Noncustodial Parents Pay for Additional Expenses
A second myth is that the parent who has full physical custody can expect the other parent to pay for additional expenses above and beyond regular child support. In reality, child support is supposed to be used for all the youngster’s expenses, including activities like piano lessons and sports.
The main exception to this might be the court ordering the noncustodial parent to provide health insurance for the child. Sometimes, this can be done through the noncustodial parent’s employment when the benefit is not offered by the custodial parent’s workplace.
Family Courts Are Biased Against Fathers
A Custody Attorney in Martinsburg WV knows people tend to believe that family courts almost always rule in favor of the mother when it comes to custody. There was some truth to this many years ago, but in today’s world, it’s rare for custody issues to reach the trial stage. Mothers generally have full physical custody because that is the decision the mother and father made during divorce proceedings.
Shared physical custody sometimes is a possibility, but not always. Often the parents don’t live in the same town or they live on opposite sides of a city, making school an issue. Like us on Facebook.